Found in Fishers

Furniture frenzy

With closing moved up a few more days it was time to hit the bricks and pin down some of our furniture choices. So why not start at the least logical place: the Indianapolis Home Show...with more than 750 exhibitors. With a bottomless bank account and equally endless options one could have a dandy time. We did manage to choose a water softener and filtration system, but only became more confused with all the possible decorating, landscaping, and interior design opportunities.

We’d visited Gerdt Furniture a half-dozen plus times and found some nice, comfy leather couches. Take note all you nay-sayers...I said leather. That’s right, Boss Lady realized the error of her ways and the infinite practicality of quality leather so na, na to you all. In snooping around town - and heading across the street for a lunch break at Costco - we found the exact leather Natuzzi sofas we were about to pay more than 3 grand for at Gerdt at less than two-for-one prices...along with 8-foot ficus trees, and outdoor furniture. Can you say U-Haul? In a chilly drizzle this afternoon we loaded up the rental truck with our Costco booty and headed for the apartment, and our freakish moving-heavy-crap-in-the-rain side show. And the apartment. It was cramped before but now our temporary home is looking more and more like Abu Ghraib...less, of course, the butt naked prisoners posing for souvenir photos. Come to think of it, there’s no room for prisoners!

Before signing off and doing laundry, a quick plug for the good people at Gerdt Furniture and Costco. Applause to furniture diva Carol at Gerdt. She's been most accommodating and helpful. Don’t worry...we’ve spent plenty with her and will drop more green before the coming week ends. And what can you say about Costco? If you aren’t a member...then join! Lifetime guarantees, the best no-hassle return policy this side of Mexico, and you can even buy your next casket from ‘em. How’s that for digging your work?

Check out the latest photo album "Furniture Choices" to see our most recent selections.

If you don't like the rules of the game, TOO BAD

As we mentioned in prior posts: If you don't like da rules, don't play da game! So to all you procastinators who didn't submit an entry to the Guess the Closing Contest, too bad for you. You'd a day late and a t-shirt short. The game is over, done, finished...kind of like the Colts' season.

Much to our surprise, the mortgage company and builder set the closing date for the Dekoven residence as FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24th! So sorry, too bad...most of you were way off in your guesses. Good for us, bad for you. Apartment life is almost over. In the meantime there are many things going on at the house.

But don't cry in your bucket of paint, Bunky. If you're sitting around wondering, "How can I score me one of those rare Found in Fishers t-shirts if I didn't win a contest?" your worries are over. We've come up with yet another chance to get your hands on the most desired prize in all the Midwest. Volunteer to help us move! All movers get a free t-shirt and the satisfaction that they were among the first few lucky ducks to tour Che Dekoven. Just let us know what the first two weekends after closing look like for you and you, too, can be stylin' in no time.

Follow the Yellow...oops...I mean Red Brick Road

To all of our dedicated webloggers: The bricks have arrived and are being placed on the house. Who would have thought that htings would be moving so quickly. We've been blessed with pretty pleasant weather and things are getting closer to the end. The wood flooring in the entrance, kitchen and powder room is installed and looks great. The flooring the laundry room and bathrooms is installed. The ceilings are textured. This week the trim work is going in. We are meeting with our buddy, Cameron, on Friday for the post-drywall meeting. That's and interesting kind of meeting. We'll also be getting kitchen cabinets this week.

We got our fair share of exercise this week thanks to the electrician. Late last Friday afternoon we get a call that all the fans need to be purchased and in the house by Thursday. With Juan in transition, I delaying my trip up north to visit with the Princess of Walter to go fan shopping. Saturday Juan hauled all the fans into the house and placed them in each room (5 in all). Then we get the call Monday from Cameron that they need to be removed because so many people have keys and he cannot be responsible for them. So off went Flora for her share of the free exercise.

One at a time the fans go to the kitchen, then the garage, then the car. Whew! Of course this was all happening while the brickers were watching probably laughing under their breath. Now the fans take a daily ride around Fishers until this Friday in the Camry Chariot. By the way the chariot is not in the best shape anymore since last Sunday an inattentive driver at the gas station plowed into the rear bumper.
Keep checking the progress.

Take a virtual tour of Dekoven Drive

Here's your opportunity to take a quick look inside. Check out the two new photo albums that have been added to our blog: "Drywalling - Inside View" and "Framing - A Look Inside." Feel free to add your comments to the section below by just clicking on "comments". We enjoy reading what you have to say, especially if you're making fun of Juan's decorating tastes. You all know that in the end I'll get my way...that's the way it's suppose to work, right?

This week will be busy at Dekoven Drive. They're priming the walls, putting the wood flooring in the kitchen, entry, and powder room, and putting the vinyl in the bathrooms upstairs and the laundry/mud room. We decided to go with cherry wood for the floors. We -- ok, I -- wanted something different from Dyer and with a fresh pallet this was my chance. I would like to start thinking about decorating. We're leaning toward a mix of mission and arts and crafts (Frank Lloyd Wright) style. I want to use olives or darker sages, reds, and mustard colors. Started to look at furniture but the whole process is a little overwhelming. We might just move first and then get more serious about furniture. Well, then again you know how patient I am. Keep checking on the progress.

Fancy footwork in Fishers

*Please note: This is a guest post from the Princess herself.

The fancy footwork began this morning when Low and Behold, against everything John has proclaimed, Flora started to cook.  It started off this morning with homemade cinnamon/hazelnut rolls (she even bought a new rolling pin from the Walmart just this week for my arrival). And the day ended with turkey, stuffing, beans with almonds, and chocolate cake.  Please, John, acknowledge the fact that the Queen can cook.

The second fancy footwork belongs to me, the "Princess of the North". The stately tour of the Queen's new Southern DeKoven residence was held today.  Not being able to soil my precious feet the Queen's people supplied me and the queen with the Kroger bags to cover the royal feets. The house is looking awesome and Juan actually decided to take a piece of home with him when he rubbed up against the newly mudded walls. Hey that leather coat holds up, wonder if that holds true for leather couches. Maybe Juan should lay on the floor and we can practice sitting on him and having the dogs jump on him while wearing that leather coat to test out the fabric.

As the day moved on, Master Liam showed off his fancy feet when Mark and Liz took him ice skating.  He is the next Brian Boitano, minus the fact he likes girls and is not from Canada.  Keep an eye out for him in the Chicago 2016 Winter Olympics!  Oh, and ask Liz about her boyfriend's new pants.

Finally, the award for the fanciest of all footwork belongs to Uncle Juan.  Chasing after the almost four year old tornado and cleaning up after him.  (He has issues about always needing to pick things up, maybe he should apply for the position of Butler of the evil tri-force). He did mention last night while watching all the escapades he has a lot of experience with children... after all you know he works in the pedatric intensive care unit at Rush. Not thinking that prepared him for the "wild child" jumping on his furniture in his underwear. John...those kids at the hospital don't move!

Well, my trip down south is quickly coming to an end. The time went by so fast. It will be time to drive my chariot up north and resume my royal responsibilities. Keep checking the blog as I hope to return as a guest again.

Gettin' buzzed in Fishers

We got Buzzed tonight when a 4-foot tornado named Liam blew into town. Note to all parents: Having your toddler nap for two hours late at night is not a good idea. Our nephew -- who wants to marry Liz even though they don't live in Tennessee or Kentucky -- is a ball of fire. Boss Lady gave him a Fishers survival kit. Papa Juan should have gotten it instead. Fortunately there's plenty of alcohol in the apartment. Sally and Buddy are thrilled that Sarah is here. It's been a couple weeks since they vacationed at Che Lansing with the O'Brien clan. Check back tomorrow as the weekend buzz continues...

Wall to wall drywall

It's been a while; recuperating from our trip...re-entry into the work-a-day world is the pits. Everyone except Papa Juan found themselves spewing forth from both ends for a couple days. We've been warned before: Don't drink the water in the US!

In any event, here's the latest from Dekoven/DeKoven/De Koven (pick your preferred spelling 'cause we ain't got a clue) Drive where construction continues. Got our first look-see at the inside and were amazed at the progress in about a month. We're also surprised at how much smaller the house seems at this stage compared to the finished and decorated model. And speaking of smaller, Boss Lady and her big ol' garden tub shrunk the size of the master bedroom shower to about 1 square foot. That'll be fun...

Yesterday and today drywalling was in progress. Still a little water and mud floating around the basement but we've been assured that will be a fond memory before the keys are in our hot little hands. Flora's already dragging Juan around to furniture stores and bucking his preferred leather sectional sofa choices for the family room. So weigh in with YOUR opinion here. What kind of furniture would YOU purchase? Let us know...especially if leather and sectional are in your vocabularly. And don't forget to enter our latest contest by guessing the date that we will close on the house. Email your entry today!

Beam me up, Katie

Trying to catch up on lost vacation sleep means no blog posting, so it's time to update. The two kiddos are missing their second day back at school. They're home yaking, and Boss Lady reports that she, too, is feeling "queasy." Attention KMart shoppers: There's a blue light special in housewares; buy one barf bucket get one free. Ick...

We're officially jealous. As in a friend of Boss Lady's got to be the first one inside our new home. But kudos to her for faithfully going past the construction site every day to help continue the documentation of our homebuilding fun and games. There's been so much progress that she was able to go into the home for photos as well.

Which leads us to this photo. Is it just us or does one of the beams look oddly out of place? Perhaps someone forget to bring along directions for construction connect the dots? Or is this merely a bonus beam, as in "Hey Bubba, whadya think we should do with this...return it to Lowe's or tack 'er up?" We're waiting official word from construction supervisor dude Cameron.

** A coveted Found In Fishers t-shirt goes to Katie for going above & beyond as temp photo mistress. And enter our newest contest: Guess the closing date. Be the lucky dog to guess the day we close on the house and receive a shirt and personal home tour (transporation costs not included!). Email your entry by January 31 to guessthedate@foundinfishers.com and stay tuned in for all the latest from Found in Fishers.

Happy New Year!

Only Liz managed to stay awake and usher in the new year, but we began 2006 in the best possible way...visiting with friends from Modesto. Four years ago Papa Juan met a group from Heart of the Valley Christian Church in Modesto, CA down in Mexico at Casa Hogar Bienvenidos. As the old cliche says, the rest is history. On New Year's Eve we met Vic & Deb for dinner...they're the absolute best...and can't wait for them to return to Indiana in '06! Flora, Liz and Mark got to meet the rest of the gang for the first time. They opened their hearts and homes to us on this first day of the year and did we have a ball! We spent the entire day together laughing, telling stories, and enjoying the good company of friends. You know the two in the middle. Robert & Michele are on the left (Robert is Heart of the Valley's pastor) and Joel & Cindy on the right (who've provided a place for Juan to lay his head on trips to Modesto).

Suggesting that you have a Happy New Year is assuming a great deal for some of you will have an absolutely crummy 2006. Perhaps you'll find yourself being downsized or rightsized (take your politically correct choice), while others will receive some dreadful news during one of those so-called "routine" visits to the doc's office. A few will lose a cherished friend over some sort of nasty business while others may find themselves being harangued by a soon-to-be-bitter ex-spouse along with his/her cheap-suited divorce lawyer. And some of you may die. That might sound a bit harsh, but really it's not. It's just a simple statement of fact. So whatever your lot in the year ahead may you make the most of it and have yourself a 2006.

Tomorrow it's back to LA for a red-eye flight back to Chicago. By the time we return the rental car we will have logged more than 1600 miles in 9 days! We need sleep...